Why doesn't Earth have Rings like Saturn? + more videos | #aumsum #kids #education #children

The rings of Saturn can be remnants of a moon, comet, etc., that got ripped apart due to Saturn’s gravitational pull, or result of a large collision between two moons. Some even claim that rings are made up of debris left over during the formation of our solar system.

So, how did this debris form Saturn’s rings?

It’s got to do with Roche limit. It is the distance at which objects tend to be ripped apart by the planet’s gravitational pull. In case of Saturn, it is popularly believed that a celestial body like moon or comet got too close to it and exceeded the Roche limit. Hence, it got ripped apart into pieces, thus forming its rings.

Now, earth also has a moon. But since it is beyond the Roche limit, it doesn’t get ripped apart into pieces to form rings.